Salmonella Investigation

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The state Health Department says the number of salmonella cases in Oklahoma has risen to 15, and officials are monitoring illnesses involving a similar strain in two other states.

The agency is investigating 12 cases of salmonella among Mustang elementary school children in Canadian County, as well as two confirmed cases in neighboring Oklahoma County and one in Carter County.

Communicable Disease Division director Laurence Burnsed told The Oklahoman a similar strain of salmonella has been identified in Iowa and Nebraska, but those states are only reporting a couple of cases so far.

Health Department staffers interviewed ill adults, parents of sick children and people who are well Friday to compare their activities and what foods they ate.